Prime shifting to Paperless Logs

That doesn't surprise me at all... Weener got put on paperless because of the numerous, repeated and flagrant HOS violations by its drivers and the cavalier attitude of management forcing their drivers into these situations. The situation at Prime is experimental, and one of getting some experience on both sides before the prospect becomes a mandate by the government.

Not part of our system...

Hmmm... I know our system will automatically move you from line 1 or 2 to line 3 when it detects the truck has moved x amount or is scoring y amount of speed...

You see, there we have it over the Weenies... its generally not an us vs them adversarial situation at Prime. That's one of the great things about driving for Prime is that it's not a constant battle with management trying to stick it to the driver. BOHICA is a naval acronym that you might be familiar with being a former Weenie. Don't get that at Prime.

We've got some LOs working with it now... when they go from team to solo, logs has been having them go back to pen and paper. That might just be a limitation of the test system rather than a general practice if paperless ever goes company-wide.

 

You're right, and I'm happy I don't. And I certainly won't have to deal with it until the tractor I'm driving gets turned in - probably a year or so from now. However, that doesn't mean I can't have an opinion on the subject, nor am I spreading "mis-information."

Last I heard, you are! Unless the FMCSA requires all carriers to go to it, my info is that Prime will continue to operate the way they are... except for D-man's board, and those who volunteer for it.

I agree... that's where the industry will be going eventually. As far as a waste of time - I probably spend 10 minutes a day doing logs, unless I have a special situation that needs dealing with. Oh, BTW, my loads run smooth, and I only have problems when the shippers and receivers decide its time to screw with my chi.

Pretty much agree with all of the above. Our dispatcher (as in we have the same one) knows pretty much where I am on things as well. Just a matter of keeping D-man in the loop. Yeah, I get asked if I can do things occasionally, but the D-man knows I'm going to tell him if I can't.

When the entire industry is on this system, I think it will be a boon for us. It will end the BS that shippers/receivers/lumpers put on us. And I think it will also end the nonsense of keeping drivers off of wage-hour law protection. However, until then, I'll be happy to stay with pen and paper. JMNSHO.

 

As far as the Mac3 and Mac4 times go, you just have to show yourself at the shipper / receiver at this time, you don't have to log your 15 minute depart on line 4. That way if you are at a customer that allows parking, you don't have to ruin a break when you depart.

 

They touched on this on the last CD. Uncle Don said there are absolutely no plans to move anybody onto paperless, except for one board and those who volunteer or those who are having problems with their paper logs. The new transportation bill does have wording in it that would require all commercial vehicles to be fitted with EOB's. Thus, Prime wants to experiment with them and work out any issues before we are eventually forced to switch. Be he was pretty clear when he said they would not be implimenting EOB's company wide until it became mandatory.

It could have been BS, but I think that's probably the truth.

 

Same thing that I heard from different talking heads (plus Uncle Don) at a Friday AM meeting a few weeks back. Can't say I blame them... much better to have the kincks worked out before it becomes a 8000 lb gorilla! IMO, it's going to happen whether we like it or not.... just a matter of when.

 

Absolutely dead on. I'm glad they are experimenting with them now. Because like you, I believe it is only a matter of time before we, as well as all other carriers, are required to move to them. Who will have the upper hand when that happens? Companies who already have experience with them, or companies who are switching for the very first time? i like the proactive approach. I'm just glad it's U2 and not me. I don't think I'd mind the electronic logs, and U2 has made some good points in that the "sky is falling" mentality is way overblown. It's just those unknowns that I worry about. But the time is coming for all of us. When that happens, who will have the upper hand. U2 or me?

 

Well U2 is right about something... if you're logging legal now, you're not going to have a difficult time shifting to the elog gear range. Its the drivers who cannot make a buck without logging illegally who are going to suffer. For me, I know I'm going to need to do more up-front planning. My approach is rather ad-hoc, and given a few moments with a calculator I usually have a good idea how things are going to turn out. Don't have many problems like this, although I have had an occasional surprise... not recently though. But, I have a loose-leaf logbook too. You don't get that with elogging. First cut has to be right, or you're going to be talking to logs, Uncle Don, Stan the Man, etc.

I do think this is excellent experience for the cube heads though. Load planning, dispatch, logs, etc. really needs to get some experience with this. When it happens, if the support crew isn't ready, the pain will be felt on our side of the QualComm terminal.

 

Cheaters cheat, so it will only be a matter of time before they figure out a way around the new system. We have beaten the "better planning' thing to death. I am a pretty good planner, and it bugs me when a shipper or receiver get in the way of my perfect plan.
We will simply have to learn a new set of skills, how to manage this Big Brother log as we have the paper ones. I am not a cheater, but sometimes you have to be flexible - and this is missing from the elog, as U2 has pointed out - not user friendly.